Was listening to the studio version of Jerry's version of Visions of Johanna, and I reckoned back to the night I was 1st blanket in front of Phil at the tender age of 20, and the man sang me a song. A song I'd never heard before and it brought me to tears. I spent a few years after that wondering how it all went down, how we lost such a strong soldier and crushed at how I felt I played a part in the demise. When I listen to this, it wasn't that bad. Jerry was in pain and we were his heartbeat.

to this guy "if Oakland is not the dumpiest part of this country, than what is?"

please, stop writing words for public consumption. check out the Visions. but first, check your grammar. 4 stars for the mushrooms and killer spot in front of Phil. 1 star for Cutler, Vince and the Long Way. 5 stars cause it was the reviewer's 1st visit to the bay - don't come back!

Seattle was not the best '95? Thanks for pointing me to SLC. I've heard it. It's a great '95, indeed. I, so far, have only checked on the shows I attended (for '95 at least), and of those Seattle was the best of '95. It's the Scarlet Fire in Seattle that truly brings that show to a level unrivaled (IMO). I'll check out the Salt Lake City show again. I do remember the most beautiful Visions of Johanna. I can't recall the rest of the show.

bBback to 2/24/95-- I normally don't bother with audience recordings, but there's currently no SB for this Oakland show on the archive. I am so happy to have confirmation, even from an audience recording (no offense to taper or poster) that proves this was far better than the catastrophe that occurred two nights later on Mardi Gras. As for this one, though-- I'd like to hear the Board-- if someone would upload???

To each their own and given a good number of strong reviews I'll be checking out that Seattle show in it's entirety now but from all the shows (or portions) I've heard (a fair number) 2/21/95 Salt Lake is HANDS DOWN the best of '95. First off the recording is SO good that I've never heard its equal (inc official release) and that was BEFORE Charlie Miller got his hands on it!! 1st n only SLC (TOO cool they played it there!) opens show. Nice FOTD follows w/ its "spent the night in Utah" line. :) The Broken Arrow is REALLY good n I can't stand Phil singing. The SMR is a definite "best of" candidate. Jerry flubs 1st line n subsequently plays/sings with such passion and emotion it makes the hairs stand up. Everything else in set is solid if not spectacular. 2nd set starts with a near flawless Foolish Heart. One of those songs Jerry seemed to ALWAYS struggle with (at least vocally) yet this was near flawless. I Just Wanna Make Love to You> That Would be Something is a rare treat and done well. Visions is hands down best I've ever heard and I've heard em all. Okay the Samba in the Rain (2nd song) doesn't do it for me but it was still well played and even the Truckin' and predicable Sugar Mags closer were still done well. All members of the band firing on all cylinders. No one packin it in even for a tune or two. Bottom line is that is one of the best Grateful Dead shows I've ever heard without caveats. Don't care what year it is great is great. Just my .02. Check it out!!

Ok Folks...my first Oakland show was Dec 86 and I've seen them play here 15 times. YOU CANNOT COMPARE THE EAST COAST TO THE WEST COAST. East coast shows are high energy, whip-saw, in your face shows....just like the people. West coast shows are laid back, mellow groove shows...just like the people. Remember something, after Oakland shows, the boys get to sleep in their own beds, not a hotel room. Yea these shows weren't the best and Jerry was definately on the decline, but hey, to be here was to be here.

Saw one show of this run, and Garcia was not himself to say the least. For the first time I recall, the boys did not fill the venue.
The reviewers who dump on Oakland don't know Oakland. Like every big town it has it's bad hoods, but it's a great, diverse city with a lot of soul and culture.
San Francisco is fine, but it's for the rich now. Oakland is where real people live, make art, music and cool stuff.

I always loved the sound when I was in the Coliseum but never on tape EXCEPT for 12/27/87. I have a remarkable Audience of that night. We should have hired that guy to be the permanent taper for that venue. The sound on this is the usual for this venue. Geez I hope I'm not hurting anybody's feelings. I just have a lot of Oakland audience tapes and they all sound kinda crappy.

As to this run. Whattaya gonna do? It's brutal as is a lot of '95 but what gets my goat is the raving about the Seattle '95 show that also opens with Help>Slip>Frank. Okay, raving is a bit strong I know, but I was at that show and loved it at the time but have never felt it holds up on tape. In fact it's kind of embarrassing. There are other shows in '95 that are better and yet that show is singled out as the the best. I threw it on last week to be sure. Maybe I'll compare. Or maybe I'll just throw on a show from '72. Yeah, that sound like a good idea.

I recommend to download, enjoy. Not great but good !!

The last reviewer puts Oakland down.Baltimore is a bigger dump than Oakland.Anyway.yeah Oakland was a shithole in a shit neighborhood and all the hustlers and bums would come on the lot scamming but i love this venue.it was home

if you attended this string of Oakland shows. these shows were just plain bad. Jerry was reading lyrics off an easel for more than just the newer songs (also on visions which is understandable i guess), and it was sloppy across the board, with the exception of the days between they played the last night. jerry seemed to really get it right on that tune...how prophetic (that song seems like his autobiography). i left these shows with a pit in my stomach. oh, also, and im just curious, but if Oakland is not the dumpiest part of this country, than what is? this was my first journey to the bay area for a show. The dead always played with more energy on the east coast.

This was an ok show by song selection, however it fell apart with lyrical failings. The guitar playing by Jerry came in and out--listen to Franklins Tower--some good. The high point of the show was the Visions Of Johanna, played well and with much emotion. Leaving this show was sad, knowing it was near the end, but still worth a listen if you were there, or if you love the music for what it is.

I liked this show very much, I attended the show and heard the sounds of the drums durring fire and they rock! the sound quality is decent enough to enjoy adn if you were at this show this was a evry impressive list for that particular tour. I highly recomend this show for great garcia licks and superb drums!

Not a very impressive performance. The band attempt to jump start the show with Help>Slipknot>Franklins, but Jerry just isn't up to it so early in a show and does a lot of that repetetive guitar riff stuff rather than actual solos. They attempt to pick the show up again with Scarlet>Fire to start the second set, but Jerry still struggles to find his footing, producing one of the most uninsperational, bogged down Scarlet>Fire transition jams I have ever heard. Space is very long and drawn out, as if they are just playing for time so they don't have to play too many more songs. Sound quality is pretty standard for an AUD and overall good. Never the less, this has to go in the 'Collectors Only' category.